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Calcium supplementation and bone health in woman during load carriage
Intense exercise and load carriage can lead to high mechanical and metabolic stress on the skeleton, disrupting calcium metabolism (1). Studies have shown that load carriage exercise increases calcium absorption and retention in healthy young women (2). Integrating women into military service necessitates research on gender-specific effects of military training and operational activities (3). In a randomized controlled crossover trial researchers investigated the effect of calcium supplementation on calcium and bone metabolism in women during load carriage (1).
The effect of calcium supplementation on bone calcium balance and calcium and bone metabolism during load carriage in women: a randomized controlled crossover trial. Coombs CV et al., 2025.
Study details:
- a total of 48 women volunteered for the study, including 38 military personnel and 10 civilians.
- each participant completed two load carriage exercise sessions in a randomized order:
- One session after taking a 1000 mg calcium supplement, 60 minutes prior to load carriage
- One session without any supplement (control)
- during each session, participants walked 12.8 km on a treadmill at a speed of 6.4 km/h for 120 minutes while carrying a 20 kg rucksack.
Calcium supplementation and bone health in woman during load carriage
Key findings:
- Intense exercise stresses the skeleton and disrupts calcium metabolism.
- Calcium supplementation leads to increased serum ionized calcium, reduced PTH levels, and decreased bone resorption.
- Calcium supplementation had no effect on markers of bone formation, including Sclerostin.
- Taking 1000 mg of calcium 60 minutes before load carriage helps protect bone health and calcium balance.
SCLEROSTIN was measured with the BIOMEDICA Sclerostin assay:
Sclerostin (SOST) ELISA (cat. no. BI-20492)
- Most referenced Sclerostin ELISA in over 330 citations
- Low sample volume – 20µl / well
- Full validation package – download here
Standardizing Sclerostin Measurement with complete ready to use ELISA kits
Related products:
Bioactive Sclerostin ELISA (cat. no. BI-20472)
OPG – Osteoprotegerin ELISA (cat. no. BI-20403)
FREE soluble RANKL HS ELISA (cat. no BI-20462)
Literature:
- The effect of calcium supplementation on bone calcium balance and calcium and bone metabolism during load carriage in women: a randomized controlled crossover trial. Coombs CV, Greeves JP, Young CD, Irving AS, Eisenhauer A, Kolevica A, Heuser A, Tang JCY, Fraser WD, O’Leary TJ. J Bone Miner Res. 2025 Jun 3;40(6):753-765. doi: 10.1093/jbmr/zjaf004. PMID: 39804018.
- Load carriage exercise increases calcium absorption and retention in healthy young women. Gaffney-Stomberg E, Nakayama AT, Lutz LJ, McClung JP, O’Brien KO, Staab JS. J Bone Miner Res. 2024 Mar 4;39(1):39-49. doi: 10.1093/jbmr/zjad003. PMID: 38630876.
- Load carriage changes tibiofemoral arthrokinematics during ambulatory tasks in recruit-aged women. Johnson CC, Dzewaltowski AC, Dever DE, Krajewski KT, Rai A, Ahamed NU, Allison KF, Flanagan SD, Graham SM, Lovalekar M, Anderst WJ, Connaboy C. Sci Rep. 2024 Apr 25;14(1):9542. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-60187-3. PMID: 38664550; PMCID: PMC11045865.